NBA Sees Impact Of Social Media, Philippines No. 1 After U.S. And China

June 19, 2012

Following the U.S. and China, the Philippines tops the list of countries following the NBA on Facebook and Twitter. The NBA has 278 million fans following the league, teams and players globally on social media. In China, the NBA is the No. 1 sports league across social media with 52 million fans on the league’s official accounts on Weibo and QQ. After the Philippines on Facebook are Turkey, Indonesia, Mexico and France; and on Twitter are Indonesia, Brazil, the U.K. and India (NBA).

THE IMPACT: In N.Y., Alicia Jessop wrote that the widespread following of NBA fans around the world on social media “allows the NBA a platform upon which to provide coverage” of the Finals and to “interact with millions of fans in real time.” The extensive int’l usage of social media to follow the NBA has led the league to “develop new technology, which further utilizes social media,” including the new NBA Game Locator Facebook application. Nearly 5% of the world follows the NBA on some kind of social media platform, proving that the league has “effectively utilized social media to enhance its business model.” In doing so, the NBA has driven int’l interest in the game, “while also creating new markets” in which the league can engage (FORBES, 6/18).